Car trackers

A car tracker is a small device fitted to a car so that it can be found again after a theft. Police crime prevention advice lists one among several steps, along with keeping the key away from the front door.

What a tracker does after a theft

Secured by Design is the official police security initiative. Its advice says a tracking system can increase the chances of getting a stolen vehicle back. Many systems switch on once the vehicle is stolen and follow it by GPS and other means.

Keyless cars and relay theft

Secured by Design explains that thieves often work in pairs with devices that grab the signal from a smart key. The car then behaves as if the key were beside it. It says a car is most at risk overnight, on a driveway or right outside the owner's home.

Its advice is to keep the key in a signal-blocking pouch, sometimes called a Faraday bag, and away from the front door. A steering wheel lock or wheel clamp adds a physical barrier, because thieves want to get away quickly.

Choosing a certified device

Thatcham Research tests automotive security products against its own criteria and lists the certified ones in a searchable database. The search covers the type of vehicle, the product and the manufacturer.

Thatcham states that its certification does not guarantee recognition by an insurer, because each manufacturer agrees that with its insurer partners. So anyone fitting a tracker for an insurance policy needs to check with the insurer which devices it accepts.

A tracker belongs on your own car

Tracking someone else's car without their consent can be a crime.

The Crown Prosecution Service's guidance says monitoring a person's movement may amount to stalking and to controlling or coercive behaviour. The National Stalking Helpline, run by the Suzy Lamplugh Trust, gives advice to people who are being stalked. Its number is 0808 802 0300.

If the car is stolen

GOV.UK says to tell the police and the insurer straight away. The police take a report on 101, and they need the registration number, make, model and colour. They give a crime reference number, which the insurer will ask for.

The police tell DVLA about the theft, and again if the car is found. If the insurer pays out, the owner has to tell DVLA that the car has been sold to the insurance company.

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